Former Black Stars coach, James Kwasi Appiah
It has emerged that the Ghana Football Association defied advice from President Nana Dankwa Akufo-Addo to get rid of Kwasi Appiah as Ghana coach.
According to Collins Atta Poku of Sompa FM, it was the wish of President Akufo-Addo that Kwasi Appiah’s stay with the Black Stars be extended when his contract expired in 2020.
Atta Poku claims that President Akufo-Addo communicated his desire to Kurt Okraku through the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, in a meeting at the Jubilee House in 2020.
According to him, Kurt Okraku, during the meeting, asked for a moment to consult only to return with the statement that the FA could not accept the directive from the president.
“Kurt Okraku sacked Kwasi Appiah. When he went to the Jubilee House, Nana Akufo-Addo, through his Chief of Staff, asked Kurt Okraku to give Kwasi Appiah a one-year contract extension.
“Kurt Okraku stepped out of the meeting to make a call and upon return rejected the advice from the President. He then told the GFA Exco members that the government tried to impose their wish on him,” he said.
The account by Atta Poku comes on the back of a recent claim by Dan Kwaku Yeboah that the government opted against Kwasi Appiah’s sacking, but Kurt Okraku insisted on letting go of the manager.
“When Kurt Okraku took over from the Normalization Committee, Kwasi Appiah had won two games on the trot, including beating South Africa in Cape Coast.
“That was the match where Kudus and others made their debut. According to Kwasi Appiah, Kurt Okraku had called him and warned him that he would be sacked if he lost because he was using unknown players. Kwasi Appiah won the game but still got sacked. At some point, the president wanted Kwasi Appiah to stay, but Kurt insisted on sacking him,” he said.
Kwasi Appiah’s contract ran out in January 2020, and the GFA refused to renew his deal.
EK
